Ponty’s security violated MHA rule

The shooting in which controversial liquor baron Ponty Chadha and his brother were killed on Saturday highlighted the flagrant violation of a rule that required the state police to take over security of all protectees in its jurisdiction for more than 72 hours.

Chadha was accompanied by a Punjab Police team when he was shot dead at the farmhouse this week.

The home ministry rule that governs security of protected persons requires security personnel to maintain liaison with the local police when they enter their jurisdiction and to hand over security duties if the stay exceeds three days.

But home ministry officials concede this rule laid down in a MHA circular was blatantly violated by most protectees and the policemen guarding them.

“There are several senior political leaders, who have got security from the state police where they wield influence and retain them here,” a home ministry official said.

A state police official said protectees were often apprehensive over the change in guard and preferred continuation of the state police officers, with who they are familiar.

He added there had been cases where the quality of personnel deployed by the states were not of the requisite abilities.